First Call: Russell Wilson, Justin Fields favored to get Jets' QB job; Jake Guentzel shines for Team USA

Friday’s “First Call” has the same potential destination for both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson. An ex-Steelers assistant coach is part of the shuffling deck in Detroit.

A trio of former Penguins registered points in the Team USA win over Finland in the American opener of the 4 Nations Face-Off.

And we lay out the local college basketball and hockey schedules.

‘Fields’ of green?

The New York Jets have officially informed Aaron Rodgers that they will be moving on at quarterback without him.

We have informed Aaron Rodgers that we will be moving in a different direction at quarterback.

— New York Jets (@nyjets) February 13, 2025

Who will replace him? According to the stakes at BetOnline, it’s going to be a yet-to-be-determined rookie. The gambling outlet lists a draft choice as the top option at plus-250.

The Jets have the No. 7 pick. That’s a bit of a tough spot to be in for a quarterback. Most outlets only have Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward as top 10 caliber picks at the position. Plus, most outlets have those two going within the first five picks.

So, what about current NFL QBs? Well, the top two names on the board for the Jets to scoop up are the Steelers’ two quarterbacks from last year. Justin Fields is atop the odds board at plus-300, and Russell Wilson is next at plus-400.

Both signal callers are free agents. Former Jet Sam Darnold is next at plus-500.

Sticking around

While other Lions assistant coaches left for promotions, Scottie Montgomery is staying put in Detroit.

The former Steelers assistant is going to be Detroit’s wide receivers coach in 2025. That’s according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. Montgomery had held the roles of running backs coach and assistant head coach to Dan Campbell in 2024.

Lions ass't head coach Scottie Montgomery will transition to coaching wide receivers in 2025, per source. Montgomery is viewed as having HC potential around the NFL and remains a key part of Dan Campbell's staff moving forward.

He interviewed for the Cowboys OC job.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) February 13, 2025

The WRs coach designation had been held by another former Steeler, Antwaan Randle-El, last year. He got that title along with being the assistant head coach in Chicago this season. He’s joining the staff of former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.

Montgomery was the wide receivers coach in Pittsburgh from 2010-12. The Lions also lost defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. He is heading to New York to be the head coach of the Jets.

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Pens imprint

Sidney Crosby was the star of the night when Canada opened the 4 Nations Face-Off with a 4-3 overtime win over Sweden on Wednesday. Crosby assisted on three of those goals and nearly scored a fifth.

On Thursday, Crosby’s former NHL linemate in Pittsburgh, Jake Guentzel, helped Team USA get a 6-1 win in its first game against Finland.

Guentzel had a goal early in the third period to make it 4-1 for the Americans.

TWO GOALS IN 11 SECONDS FOR USA AS JAKE GUENTZEL RIFLES HOME MATTHEWS' PASS ????????#4Nations pic.twitter.com/gUDwD8fQNL

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) February 14, 2025

Guentzel added an assist. Both Brady and Matthew Tkachuk had two goals apiece for the American team, coached by Pens bench boss Mike Sullivan.

Former Penguins Mikael Granlund and Olli Maatta assisted on Henri Jokiharju’s lone goal for the Fins. The Swedes and Fins play each other Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m., while America and Canada battle at 8 p.m.

Hoop it up

As usual, it’s a busy weekend for all of Pittsburgh’s local college basketball programs.

The hottest team of the bunch is the Robert Morris men. The Colonials (19-8) have won nine of their last 10 games and now host Purdue Fort Wayne (18-9) at 2 p.m. Saturday. The two teams and Youngstown State are all in a three-way tie for second place in the Horizon League at 11-5. Cleveland State is atop the conference at 12-3.

The RMU women’s team (11-14, 7-9) posted a 61-58 win over IU Indianapolis (6-19, 5-11) Thursday. They host Northern Kentucky (10-16, 7-4) at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Pitt’s women’s team had a tall task hosting No. 2 Notre Dame on Thursday. They hung with the Irish early on. It was only 22-21 after the first quarter. But then ND (22-2, 13-0 ACC) pulled away for an 88-57 win. The Panthers (11-15, 3-10) welcome Virginia (12-13, 4-9) at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Meanwhile, Pitt’s men’s team (14-10, 5-8) is at home against Miami (6-18, 2-11) at noon Saturday. The Panthers desperately need a win. They have dropped four in a row and eight of 10.

Finally, the Duquesne men’s team (10-14, 5-6) is at Dayton (17-8, 7-5) at 2:30 Saturday. The Flyers won the first meeting between the teams this season 82-62 on Jan. 21. The women’s team (15-9, 6-7) attempts to snap a losing streak of three games when it visits Loyola-Chicago (11-14, 3-11).

Split it up

The Robert Morris men’s hockey team plays a home-and-home series against Niagara this weekend. The Colonials are doing whatever they can to get back on track after going 0-7-1 in their last eight games.

RMU is really banged up. Derek Schooley’s club had been without their top scorer, Tanner Klimpke, since Jan. 18. The team is so torn apart by injury that they had to recruit a member of the D3 club team to be a reserve goalie for them this weekend against the Purple Eagles.

Friday’s game is up in Niagara. The Saturday game is back on Neville Island at 6 p.m. That’s an adjusted start time from original schedules. Back on Oct. 25, the Colonials lost 7-3 at Clearview Arena to Niagara. Then the teams tied 4-4 the next night.

The women’s team is also at the Island Sports Center this weekend for a pair of games against Lindenwood. Friday’s contest is at 7 p.m. The Sunday game is at noon.